South Australia’s wine country is a prime destination for an epic all-electric car road trip.

When it comes to accessibility, South Australia’s wine regions can’t be beaten. Only 40 or so minutes from Adelaide Airport, the Barossa Valley is not only a convenient drive, but far away enough to feel like you’re on a proper break.

There are wheat fields and gum trees, vineyards and magpies sitting on rusty farm gates, and you can see a blanket of stars on a clear night. Best of all, you can easily lower your environmental impact by travelling in an all-electric vehicle.

Compact wine regions make for prime driving conditions

Road-tripping in an electric vehicle once seemed dicey, but now it’s become mainstream. For this trip I’m behind the wheel of the new Volvo EX90, which has a range of up to 570 kilometres. According to SA Power Networks, there are 3000 public EV charging points across Australia, with over 750 operational or under construction in South Australia alone. You can now charge your ride at a long list of locations, from Coober Pedy to Kangaroo Island and even Pimba (population: 25), 480 clicks north of Adelaide.

Sure, there are abundant EV charging options. But I could easily manage a two-day jaunt in the Barossa and Adelaide Hills without recharging. In this corner of the world, the compact wine regions overlap each other, making driving a cinch.

A destination hotel and vines in the Barossa

Staying at a luxe destination hotel is a good start. A heritage-listed jewel, Kingsford The Barossa has all the hallmarks of a mid-1800s pastoral estate: a two-storey Georgian-style sandstone homestead, shearing shed and clawfoot bush baths. You can see why this was chosen as the location for TV drama McLeod’s Daughters to be filmed (fans can check out show memorabilia in the property’s library).

The real star of the show, however, is the surrounding landscape. Despite the region battling a drought, the parched land still has an austere beauty. The Kingsford restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows frame the quintessentially Australian outlook perfectly, best viewed in the morning with poached eggs, sourdough and a strong brew.

After dark, the bar is the place to be for a cheeky nightcap. Home to wine vaults laden with Barossa and Eden Valley drops, this is heaven for New World wine lovers. Downstairs, there’s a surprise: a two-lane Kegelbahn for European-style nine-pin bowling – a nod to the area’s German roots.

Alkina Wine Estate produces local wines you can savour here. Alternatively, you can visit the cellar door yourself, which is just 15 minutes away. At this biodynamic vineyard you’ll get an unpretentious, convivial tasting experience.

“We don’t want our shiraz to punch you between the eyes," says Dan Coward of Alkina Wine Estate, signalling that shiraz-shy drinkers are safe to sip. He also chats about the pendulum swinging on popularity, explaining that semillon has become “deeply uncool" but deserves a chance, especially when visiting South Australia. And he’s right; I’m a convert.

Providores and farmgates in the Adelaide Hills

After driving south of the Barossa for an hour, we hit the village of Verdun in the Adelaide Hills, making a pit stop at the warm and welcoming Fourth Hill Providore. On a sunny day, the shaded tables in the garden are prime real estate, and for good reason – this is a sublime spot for a latte and a pastry.

Across the road, the longstanding Stanley Bridge Tavern is a place best visited with a designated driver thanks to its very well-stocked wine room (home to 300 labels from around the world). In nearby Biggs Flat, the Jurlique Farm offers more wholesome pursuits, like tours and masterclasses using hand-picked botanical ingredients.

Therein lies the rub; around here, you could drive in any direction and find incredible food, wine, people and scenery. Now that the new generation of electric cars has a 500-plus kilometre range – there’s nothing stopping you.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

The Barossa is about an hour’s drive north of Adelaide/Tarntanya. The Adelaide Hills is a 20-minute drive from the city’s CBD.

Staying there

Stay at a heritage-listed estate with silver-screen pedigree at Kingsford The Barossa.

Playing there

Taste wine and cheese at Alkina Wine Estate and stay in the heart of the vineyard.